Carolina Journal Weekly Report

April 20, 2012

RALEIGH — A Republican state lawmaker pledged
to protect property owners from being annexed involuntarily into the
five cities that sued the state over Annexation Reform legislation that
passed last year, reportsCarolina Journal.

Officials from the cities of Kinston, Rocky Mount, Wilmington,
Lexington, and Fayetteville celebrated when a district court judge ruled recently that a vital portion of the law — the part giving property owners a
chance to reject involuntary annexation by petition — is
unconstitutional.

But Rep. Stephen LaRoque, R-Lenoir, gives two reasons why he says it’s
too soon for the cities to celebrate. One, he doesn’t think the judge’s
ruling will hold up in the appeals process. Two, he plans to introduce
legislation in the short session that would repeal specifically the nine
annexations underway by those five cities.

Supporters of the decision say the annexations at issue followed the law
and that it was unfair for the General Assembly to allow property
owners to undo them after the fact.

News Features

CJ: Commerce ‘sustainability’ official still on job RALEIGH — Nearly two weeks after N.C. Secretary
of Commerce Keith Crisco asked Assistant Secretary Henry C. McKoy to
resign over issues involving the attempted diversion of $2 million in
government funds to a nonprofit organization he had controlled, McKoy is
still on the job.

CJ: Cell phone ban draws ire of business ownersCHAPEL HILL — Businesses are concerned that
Chapel Hill’s ban on all cell phone use by drivers when their motor
vehicle is in motion will hurt sales and customer service. For some
health-care related businesses, the ban could have lethal consequences.

“I think the city has taken stewardship to mean ownership.”— Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, as quoted by the Asheville Citizen-Times, talking about the water system serving Buncombe County that the city of Asheville currently runs. A legislative committee is recommending that control be transferred to the Buncombe County Metropolitan Sewerage District to protect those that live outside the city.

On The Air This Week…

This week on C J Radio…CJ’s Rick Henderson discusses the release from prison of former Easley aide Ruffin Poole; state budget director Andy Willis tells legislators about the Medicaid shortfall; N.C. DOT’s Jim Trogdon discusses the potential impact of fracking on roads; Gary Henry of the Carolina Institute for Public Policy and Terry Stoops comment on public school achievement gains; JLF’s Roy Cordato explains his plan to eliminate the income tax and replace it with something different.

This week on NC Spin…Join moderator Tom Campbell
for another week of political discussion and debate on the most
intelligent television talk show in the state. Topics this week: North Carolina’s unemployment debt; turmoil in the Democratic Party; election update: the marriage amendment; and political debts. This week’s panelists: John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation;Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch; columnist Cash Michaels; and political consultant Peg O’Connell.